Worker Critically Injured in Animal Hospital Blast

Article excerpt

PARAMUS -- An MRI machine exploded during maintenance at the
Oradell Animal Hospital late Friday morning, critically injuring one
repairman but sparing scores of employees and animals in the
hospital, Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg said.

The critically injured repairman suffered cuts and crushing-
related injuries; two other contract workers had minor to moderate
injuries, including respiratory complaints, the police chief said.
He said their identities were being withheld pending family
notification.

As of midevening, Ehrenberg said, there was no condition update
on the critically injured man.

The explosion caused a small leak of helium, which cools the
inside of the machine and can be dangerous in a closed area. The
area was subsequently ventilated and made safe, Ehrenberg said.

Responding to reports at 11:51 a.m. of a fire and an explosion at
the animal hospital at 580 Winters Ave., police found the ceiling of
the east wing had collapsed, but the building remained structurally
sound, the police chief said. There was no evidence of a fire, he
said.

About 60 animals and 100 employees were in the building,
Ehrenberg said, and the staff subsequently accounted for all animals
and employees. They were moved to several contingent sites in the
county, he said.

The three injured men were from a private company not affiliated
with the hospital. Two were taken to Hackensack University Medical
Center, and one was taken to The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood

They had been in the process of removing the 10-year-old MRI
machine when the explosion happened, said John DeVries, the
assistant director of the hospital. The MRI machine, which the
hospital leased from Advanced Veterinary Technologies, was having
software problems, and the hospital was to get a new one in three
weeks, he said.

The explosion sounded like something fell on the roof, said
DeVries, who was at the other end of the building when it happened.
"It just vibrated the whole building," he said. …